Tuesday, June 03, 2008

USHL Tryout Camps

Two USHL teams held their Open Tryout Camps last weekend in Minnesota, so I went down to watch some of the action.

As a disclaimer, I was at the morning session for the Tri-City Storm and afternoon session for the Sioux Falls Stampede on Saturday, so that's what I'm going off of. It's not ideal, but better than the non-existent alternatives.

Here are the links:

Tri-City Storm Camp

Sioux Falls Stampede Camp

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Based on your comments of the Sioux Falls tryouts, you will be quite suprised with the results. Several of the kids you mentioned were not around for the all star game.

Anonymous said...

This blogger is probably the least useful observer of hockey skills of anyone writing about hockey on the Internet. If he is spoon fed info he is reasonably good at regurgitating it accurately. However, if left to judge an individual player with his own senses he doesn't exactly have a track record of accuracy. Five or six years of "watching" hockey games does not give anyone a critical eye for talent.

Rabib said...

Nice that you can say that "anonymously" isn't it?

Anonymous said...

It is tough to watch one game and make judgements. Overall your Tri-City observations were pretty good for the forwards and the D. Cichy was the best player on the ice during the weekend. The Zarbo brothers looked good too. Thocker is a physical presence. The games were pretty competitive and fun to watch.

But, here is the scoop on the goalies. Maricic, McClure, and Jendra were left at the end of the day on Sunday. Maricic and McClure easily were the best performers there over the entire weekend. Both are big and aggressive positionally. They both looked very good. Maricic is a '90 and McClure is a '91 according to the roster sheets given on Friday. I was told McClure actually had the best stats of the weekend, with Maricic next. Jendra was next in line. He looked real good at times, but gave up three goals in the last all-star game.

Bruggeman was cut after the first all-star game. He had a couple of weak goals go through him in that game. Holmes had a very tough first game, but played well after that. Collette really struggled all weekend. Benitez was up and down. Hopper was there in the crowd, but did not play. We heard he is returning. I think Maricic was selected, and deservedly so.

Overall, nice job on the write-up.

SimonTemplar said...

Nice that you can say that "anonymously" isn't it?

Isn't that the truth. Did our blogger spill mustard on his kid or what.

In the end talent is in the eye of the beholder and no two people look at players the same way. Hence the need for Forums, Duscssion Boards and Blogs were if you have to who agree on a kid it's rare or they are related.

How much can you tell from a try-out camp anyway. Go back to the kids last team and coaches and see how he preformed under the heat lamps.

Donald Dunlop said...

Actually I hadn't realized that I did. I said it. I'm not ashamed of it.

Anonymous said...

Maybe he should have prefaced it with something like As a disclaimer, I was at the morning session for the Tri-City Storm and afternoon session for the Sioux Falls Stampede on Saturday, so that's what I'm going off of.

Oh....

Anonymous said...

Sean Escobedo is a very good hockey player, but i was wondering if he was really the third best player available in this past USHL draft? he was not even rated by Central Scouting nor has he made a college commitment, yet he was picked ahead of the Daneils brothers and ahead of many other players wiht perhaps more potential?

Anonymous said...

Tri-City needed to beef up their defense this year. Escobedo was rated as the best def available. Agreed that Cichy looked very good and should have a great year.

Thought Maricic was the most solid goalie there. He is a NTDP goalie and has played international and against colleges, he should do well. McClure should come in next year and do well both Hopper and Maricic will be gone. Looks like a good group to go along with the returning veterans

Anonymous said...

tri-city had one of the worst drafts. Clearly scouting may be an issue. I hate using names but there were some picks I was able to laugh out loud at. Goes to prove talent is in the eye of the beholder, but whose measuring the talent of the beholder?

Anonymous said...

Cichy, Power and Berge will all have a great year!!

Anonymous said...

wasn't Cichy a NTDP kid? Must have blown a tire along the way.
Careful for what you wish for....
apparently not a team guy!

Anonymous said...

How were the D's overall? I heard a few of the non vets looked real good. Any comments.